Part 2: YOUR READERS

We write to be read. We’re writing to readers who want something. They want to feel something, or many somethings. They desire a specific experience. Not just to escape, for example, but to escape in a specific way into a specific type of story.

We all have preferences, even if they are eclectic.

When you do this section, keep in mind you may have different groups of readers. Create a profile for each group, if that’s the case.

Overall, though, focus on one group.

Even if you don’t know who reads your books, make your best guess, and use yourself as a basis.

Focus/Genre:

Demographics

Gender:

Age range:

Married Status:

Location:

Salary:

Occupation:

Buying Habits:

Reads how many books per week/month:

Other statistical/measurables:

Psychographics

Needs:

Wants:

Hopes:

Fears:

Desires:

Other emotional/psychological factors:

Here's an example from what I write. This is a starting off point to get a feel for who my reader is.

Focus/Genre:

sweet paranormal romance (one of the genres I write)

Demographics

Gender: Female

Age range: 25-50

Married Status: single

Location: US/UK

Salary: low to middle range

Occupation: student/day job/professional/self-employed

Buying Habits: (guess) 2-4 books/month

Reads how many books per week/month: 1-3 books/week

Other statistical/measurables: uses Twitter and Facebook

Psychographics

Needs: wants an escape into a world anything is possible

Wants: to fall in love again; to experience magic; adventure

Hopes: to find love for herself

Fears: being alone

Desires: to feel loved and love in return

Other emotional/psychological factors: ?

Paint a Picture

I imagine a professional woman reading deep into the night on her Kindle, enjoying a delicious read, and stepping away from her life for a while. (Okay, that’s me!)

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AUDIO-ONLY

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Do Part 1: WHO YOU ARE and Part 2: YOUR READERS

Ask any questions you may have.

RETROGRAPHICS

(Thank you to author, Tamsen Kaye, for sharing this term with me.)

After you have noted your psychographics and demographics, and observed who your readers are in the real world, come back to your list, and revise your reader profile. Notice what's different from your guesses, and notice what you got right, too.